Key solutions and components: how the BM-13 Katyusha was created
Serial installation of BM-13 on the ZIS-6 chassis
Guards rocket launcher BM-13 "Katyusha", actively used during the Great Patriotic War the war, deservedly bears the honorary title Weapons Victory. It showed high tactical and technical characteristics and had special combat capabilities. The appearance of such weapons became possible thanks to the long and successful work of Soviet specialists, who were able to solve a number of important technical and technological problems.
From idea to series
In 1938 aviation The Red Army adopted the first domestic rockets. At the same time, the idea of transferring such weapons to a ground platform to strengthen artillery appeared. In June 1938, the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army sent tactical and technical requirements for such a model to the Jet Research Institute (RNII).
The new project is based on existing developments on the topic of aircraft missiles. At the first stages, it was about refining such products taking into account new requirements. Subsequently, the original design of the shells was seriously changed in one way or another.
At the turn of the decade, the project for a promising guards mortar reached the stage of assembly and preliminary testing of experimental equipment. With the help of prototypes, various design features of the projectile and its launcher were tested. At this stage, the main features of the appearance of the new technology were determined, which subsequently remained unchanged.
M-13 projectile of basic modification
Testing and refinement of the design continued until June 1941. The decree to launch production and begin operation of the new BM-13 combat vehicle with the M-13 projectile was issued literally on the eve of the German attack. In accordance with this document, the first experimental battery of guards mortars was prepared. Already on July 14, a unit under the command of Captain Ivan Flerov opened fire on the enemy for the first time.
Subsequently, the BM-13 system was built in a large series, and was also modernized several times. The base chassis was changed and the launcher was modified. A separate area was the updating and improvement of rockets. In total, during the Great Patriotic War, more than 6,8 thousand rocket launchers, as well as millions of shells for them, were built and sent to the front. In addition, based on the ideas of the BM-13, several new models of a similar appearance were created.
Guards rocket mortars were actively used on all sectors of the front. They complemented howitzer artillery and were used to strike at the enemy’s front line and near rear. Massive shelling with rockets with a fairly heavy warhead caused great damage to the enemy and also had a psychological impact. The combat use of the BM-13 and other models was highly appreciated, which subsequently contributed to the emergence of a line of new MLRS.
BM-13 on STZ-5-NATI chassis
Question of shells
A key component of the BM-13 project was the creation of a missile. The outcome of the entire project depended on the solution to this problem, and it was successfully completed. The development of the future M-13 product was carried out at the RNII and NII-6. One or another contribution to the overall result was made by A.G. Kostikov, B.M. Slonimer, V.G. Galkovsky, I.I. Gwai, V.V. Aborenkov et al.
Initially, the recently created RS-13 aircraft missile was taken as the basis for the future M-132 projectile. In this case, the main task was to increase the flight range. When launched from the ground, the aircraft projectile flew only 6 km, which was considered insufficient.
As a result of a technical search, the team of RNII and NII-6 found the opportunity to almost double the mass of solid rocket fuel in the projectile engine. This problem was solved by increasing the length of the checkers while maintaining the same diameter and other features. At the same time, it was necessary to improve the technology for making checkers.
It also required modifications to the engine housing and the rocket as a whole. Due to the updated engine, the ammunition became longer - 1,4 m versus the original 845 mm, and its weight increased to 42,3 kg with a warhead of 22 kg. Taking into account the experience of testing and operating the RS-132, the new M-13 received a more rigid stabilizer, which increased shooting accuracy. The launch range reached 8,5 km.
"Katyusha" on a Studebaker chassis, 1944
Subsequently, the M-13 projectile was modified several times. To improve performance or to maintain production in difficult conditions, types of gunpowder were replaced, the design of the rocket was adjusted, etc. In particular, the M-13UK ammunition with improved accuracy was created, which had side nozzles for spin-up and stabilization by rotation. Also of interest is the M-13DD projectile with a double engine, which provided a launch range of approx. 11,8 km.
Launch method
The RS-82 and RS-132 shells were launched from a beam guide under the wing of the carrier aircraft. The new M-13 series ammunition was supposed to take off in a similar way. However, developing a launcher with the optimal appearance turned out to be a difficult task. Several variants of such a unit were proposed, and the most successful one reached the series.
In the early stages of development, already in the summer of 1938, I.I. Gwai proposed a launcher for 24 missiles. It was made on the basis of basic guides 2,5 m long, similar to aviation ones. The guides were placed on a common frame and installed across the base chassis. This arrangement provided a large ammunition load, ensured ease of operation and saved the components of the carrier vehicle from the effects of reactive gases. However, the existing guides turned out to be too short to ensure the required accuracy and accuracy of fire.
Post-war modification of the BM-13NM on the ZIS-151 chassis
Later V.G. Galkovsky proposed a more successful launcher design. He used 5 m long guides on a common frame and placed them along the axis of the carrier machine. It was possible to fit eight guides into the dimensions of the available automobile chassis. Moreover, each of them could carry two projectiles, and the total ammunition load had quite acceptable dimensions.
The Galkovsky launcher, after some modifications and design improvements, was brought into production. Subsequently, it did not undergo significant changes and was used on all modifications of the BM-13, providing launches of projectiles of any models and variants.
Carrier vehicle
From the very beginning it was assumed that the promising rocket mortar would be self-propelled. The best combination of combat qualities and mobility was supposed to be provided by a car chassis. At first, ZIS-5 and ZIS-6 trucks were considered as launcher carriers. Early prototypes were made on their basis. Subsequently, mass production of the BM-13 was launched using the ZIS-6 chassis.
However, already in the fall of 1941 we had to look for alternative options. Military-issue BM-13s could be built on any available chassis with suitable characteristics. For example, a mortar based on the STZ-5-NATI tracked artillery tractor was produced in a fairly large series.
"Katyusha" based on the ZIL-157 truck
Supplies of foreign equipment under the Lend-Lease program improved the situation with the production of BM-13. Jet mortars began to be built on imported chassis of various models. The Studebaker US6 truck performed best in this capacity. In April 1943, this particular version of the combat vehicle was designated as “normalized” - BM-13N. Over the entire period, more than half of all BM-13 installations on wheeled chassis were assembled at the Studebaker base.
In the post-war period, rocket mortars received a new base. Launchers and control devices were transferred to modern trucks, such as the ZIS-151 or ZIL-157. Due to this, the mobility of the vehicle was improved, and operation was simplified due to unification with the rest of the vehicle fleet. armies.
The right decisions
The development of the future BM-13 rocket mortar, also known as Katyusha, took several years and required the involvement of several organizations of different profiles. During development, designers and scientists went through a lot of different solutions and formed the optimal appearance of the combat vehicle, and also found the necessary technologies for the production of the system and its individual components.
The result of a long and complex development process, which united several areas and industries, was the emergence of a successful and highly effective piece of equipment. Already in the first weeks of the Great Patriotic War, the new BM-13 demonstrated its main capabilities, and in the future the artillery of the Red Army actively used such combat vehicles, bringing victory closer.
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